Two wildfires continued raging on Thursday, threatening the Angeles National Forest near Los Angeles, authorities said.
Some 1,200 firefighters were working against time to contain the fires, including an 1,800-acre (729-hectare) blaze that prompted the evacuation of local residents nearby.
The Morris Fire, which broke out late Tuesday afternoon, was 45 percent contained Thursday morning, said Rachel Mailo of the U.S. Forest Service.
Fire officials believe that the fire, fueled by bone-dry vegetation, will take a couple days to fully contain.
"It depends on the weather and what kind of progress they make on fireline construction," Bruce Quintelier of the Angeles National Forest said.
Jennifer Sanchez, also of the Angeles National Forest, said 1, 000 firefighters were assigned to fight the blaze, which prompted the mandatory evacuation Wednesday of residents in the Camp Williams area, site of a mobile home park and a cafe.
Fifteen residents were affected by the order, she said.
The cause of the fire was listed as "under investigation."
The only casualties reported as of this morning were two firefighters who suffered bee stings, according to fire officials.
As the Morris Fire was still raging, another bushfire broke out Wednesday afternoon in northeastern Los Angeles hills.
Latest report said the second fire has charred an area of 30 acres (about 12 hectares) near the Angeles Crest Highway in the Angeles National Fores.
At least two fixed wing air tankers assigned to the Morris Fire were diverted to the second fire, as some 200 firefighters were on scene to contain the blaze.
Sanchez said the second fire was 20 percent contained, with no injuries reported and no evacuations ordered.
A National Weather Service red flag warning signifying a high risk of wildfire went into effect Wednesday morning for the mountains and foothills of several areas in Los Angeles.
The warning, covering the Angeles and Los Padres national forests, was scheduled to expire Friday afternoon.
